Luisão: “We are a close-knit team”

The captain of Benfica, Luisão, was at the Centro Cultural e Juvenil de Santo Amaro to participate in the project “Aventurarte” that, since 2000, is developed under the responsibility of  City Council of Almada, and that works in the area of the socio-emotional and leisure skills.

The centre-back answered to the questions of the children who had a different and special day. The first share was on the pride and the responsibility of being a player and a skipper in such a big Club as Benfica.

“I play at a Club where big players would like to play. To be a captain at this Club is a big responsibility. When I arrived I learned how to be a leader, although I was born with that skill, because I like to leave my comfort zone, help my teammates. I considered myself a good leader because have been wearing Benfica's captain's armband for many years and it is a big responsibility”, he said.

Luisão also revealed the secret that allowed Benfica's football team to win four National League Titles in the last four seasons.

“We a very close-knit team. We have a group that is very united. First comes the group and that comes the individual. Who arrives at the team already know he will have to enter in this group harmony.”, said the centre-back

The Brazilian is a football player and fulfilled his dream, but he stressed that it was not easy and gave advice on what one must to do to fulfill our childhood dreams.

“I have experienced many difficulties. Since I was a child I had the dream of becoming a football player and we heard many "no". I had asthma when I was a child and I would hear that I was not going to fulfill my dream. I tried not to look at the circumstances and difficulties, and only focus on the dream. I went after and what I have achieved up to now was with resilience and perseverance", he said.

Asked to answer what was the tastier title, Luisão kept the ambition and pointed out to the future: “I usually say they the tastier title is the next because no matter how much we win, we always have a thirst to continue winning.” 

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica